FAISALABAD: Faisalabad is the only city with a comprehensive industrial ecosystem and is ready to initiate the next phase of industrial growth in Pakistan, said Raja Jahangir Anwar, Divisional Commissioner Faisalabad.
Addressing the business community in Faisalabad Chamber of Commerce & Industry (FCCI), he said that this city has ample resources of skilled labour and availability of wholesale and retail markets of raw material in addition to the innovative, creative and dashing entrepreneurs.
He categorically denied the closure of industrial units in Faisalabad and said that hundreds of new units have been added which would provide jobs to more than 44,400 workers despite global challenges. “The main reason for the establishment of new industrial units is that industrialists have confidence in its economic strength,” he said and added that they believe that any job started in this city will become successful without any fear of any losses. He said that the Punjab government is one of the biggest institutions in this province with 1.5million employees and expenditures of Rs. 5 trillion. He said that a 50% cut in its expenditure will definitely have a negative impact on the overall operation of this organization but the Government has clarified that availability of raw material would be ensured at all cost by providing necessary facilitation.
Raja Jahangir Anwar said that when he visited FCCI for the first time, there were piles of complaints but now 90% issues and irritants have been resolved. He said that 11,000 street lights have been added while more than 1.5lacs manhole covers have been placed. The Commissioner disclosed that two new urban regeneration centres are being conceived which would generate economic activities with the construction of roads, provision of infrastructure and parks etc. He said that Faisalabad has 56,000 industrial units in four towns while another town has been proposed along with 6 new tehsils.
He requested President FCCI to provide him a list of local taxes along with proposed infrastructure development cess so that this issue could be communicated to the provincial authorities to review and extend maximum possible facilitation to the business community. He acknowledged the importance of the circular economy and said that this issue would be discussed with the experts and a joint sitting of concerned stakeholders and academia would be arranged very soon.
Sohail Akhtar Sukheria, Regional Police Officer (RPO) said that best officers have been placed in Faisalabad to efficiently tackle its issues. He said that the 70% crime rate has been reduced due to the joint efforts of police, administration and people at large. He assured that dedicated police desks would be established in RPO and CPO offices immediately after Eid-ul-Fitr to resolve the issues confronted by the FCCI members.
Farooq Yousaf Sheikh, President FCCI welcomed the guests and appreciated the collaborative efforts of Divisional Commissioner and RPO to resolve the civic problems on top priority basis. He said that infrastructure is improved while beautification work is in full progress to give new look to this city. About the increase in petroleum prices, he said that the public and industry has not accepted this increase which would certainly enhance the prices and trigger inflation due to high cost of transportation. He said that we could not achieve the export target of $60bn in this discouraging environment.
Naveed Akram Sheikh, Senior Vice President voiced concern over delay in export refund and demanded that refunds of all sectors including textile may be processed under the “FASTER” system.
Vice President Engr. Asim Munir, Former Presidents Rana Sikandar Azam, Muzammil Sultan, Executive Members Tariq Mehmood Qadri, Muhammad Ali, Regional Chairman PHMA Ahmad Afzal Awan, Former Chairman APBUMA ArifIhan Malik, Sadaqat Hussain Lodhi, Shakeel Ansari, MianTanvir Ahmed, Haji Aslam Bhalli and other members participated in the question answer session. Later Naveed Akram Sheikh offered vote of thanks.
Copyright Business Recorder, 2026
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